Scott Lucas set to return for Bombers
28/05/2008 01:47:15 PM
With their season crashing and their ears burning, Essendon look set to rush back star forward Scott Lucas to help halt a speeding AFL decline. Lucas hasn't played since round one, when he damaged knee ligaments in the win over North Melbourne. But Bombers coach Matthew Knights said Lucas was almost certain to be named in his side's 22 to play Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Friday night. Knights said a final decision would be made on Thursday. "If he comes through training and is tight or sore tomorrow, we won't play him. If he isn't then he'll play," Knights said. "The way Scott's attacked his rehabilitation ... has just been enormous for nearly 10 to 12 weeks. "When someone attacks their football and their rehab like that, with the experience that he's got, you have no questions he's ready." Lucas' looming return is a rare and much-needed positive for the Bombers, who have been in dire form. They have won just two of nine games this season and lost their past six - with an average losing margin of more than 10 goals. Knights, in his first season since taking over from Kevin Sheedy, is also finding himself under pressure for a game-plan many commentators have called naive. He has also been in the spotlight for an on-field spray he gave his side at quarter-time, and two further bakes at halftime and post-match following his players' insipid first half last weekend against Richmond. While modern coaches show a preference to cuddle their troops publicly and keep their kickings for behind closed doors, Knights gave his troops a bit of both in the Richmond match. And the usually mild-mannered Knights was making no apologies on Wednesday, saying his anger at his players was justified and appeared to have the desired effect in an improved second half. "At times, it's appropriate. It's important to be calm and measured and get the lesson across, but at times you have to wake people up and make them realise it's not quite good enough what's going on," Knights said. "It's not something you'll see a lot, but I felt it was needed last week. "I'm not sure it rattled their confidence after halftime - eight goals to six after halftime. "I wouldn't have thought it would have an adverse effect this week. Young men have an ability to bounce and come back pretty hard." Knights also looks set to persist with his youth policy, saying there would be no reprieve for veteran fullback Mal Michael and ruckman Jason Laycock, both banished to the reserves ahead of the loss to Richmond last weekend.
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